Bale has been linked with Manchester United for almost a year, with his troublesome second season at Madrid causing some to speculate he would return to England two years after leaving Tottenham for €100 million.

But that La Liga-to-Premier League move never materialised, with France international Benzema also rejecting any suggestions he might leave the Spanish capital for interested suitors Arsenal.

Varane has been linked with United since he was a highly-rated prospect at Lens, but Zinedine Zidane’s presence at Madrid helped the club beat their Champions League rivals to his signing in 2011.

With the Madrid trio all staying put, United turned their attention to Monaco on deadline day when they signed teenage forward Anthony Martial in a move that could eventually be worth an estimated £59m.